i want to install 2 completely separate instances of firefox, one for the family and one for me.

i have tried to install each on different hard drives with different names but no matter what all bookmarks are linked between the two. i do not open both at the same time and even installed one without it in the programs on the start menu. nothing stops them from acting as one instance. i do not want to use any kind of profile, just a shortcut on the desktop for one and a folder for the other. how do i work around this problem. any help would be greatly appreciated. i have previously used flock as my default (Firefox) but it is no longer supported or updated, and i can't quite deal with chrome. i know it is Firefox based but so minimal and uncustomizable that i just don't like it.

i have tried to install each on different hard drives with different names but no matter what all bookmarks are linked between the two. i do not open both at the same time and even installed one without it in the programs on the start menu. nothing stops them from acting as one instance. i do not want to use any kind of profile, just a shortcut on the desktop for one and a folder for the other. how do i work around this problem. any help would be greatly appreciated. i have previously used flock as my default (Firefox) but it is no longer supported or updated, and i can't quite deal with chrome. i know it is Firefox based but so minimal and uncustomizable that i just don't like it.

They act as one instance because they share the same profile which is located in %APPDATA%/roaming/mozilla.
You need to create a new profile and assign one to use it. Or you can use one installation and switch between profiles.
These articles will guide you well.
[https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Profiles https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Profiles]
[https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Managing-profiles https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Managing-profiles]
Good luck

Google Chrome has no relationship to Firefox, Mozilla, or the Gecko core, it uses WebKit as its core and is more related to Safari than any other browser,

Firefox Portable installed to the hard drive will provide for a completely separate browser, without you having to do anything with "Profiles" - that is handled by the program automatically. <br />
http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/firefox_portable
Google Chrome has no relationship to Firefox, Mozilla, or the Gecko core, it uses WebKit as its core and is more related to Safari than any other browser,

Question owner

yeah, thought of that and used it just after posting my question, thanks.
good to know chrome isn't firefox based, less disappointing that way. i thought i remembered reading it was but either faulty memory or info. thanks again.

yeah, thought of that and used it just after posting my question, thanks.
good to know chrome isn't firefox based, less disappointing that way. i thought i remembered reading it was but either faulty memory or info. thanks again.